First Derivatives plc (AIM: FDP.L, ESM: GYQ.I), a leading provider of software and consulting services to global investment banks and hedge funds this morning announced the complimentary acquisition of LakeFront Data Ventures ("LDV"), a Toronto-based data management and financial information consulting company.
LDV is a boutique financial markets advisory firm specialising in Enterprise and Reference data. The firm provides consulting, premier industry thought leadership, subject matter talent, solutions, strategic advice and independent opinion. LDV also operates the Data Community Job Portal - LakeFront Data Jobs.
The acquisition of LDV will extend First Derivatives' data management capabilities in consulting, advisory and implementation services in the area of Enterprise and Reference Data. First Derivatives is now well positioned to address the data-centric requirements of client integration projects supporting the Enterprise, Trading, Credit/Market Risk, and Back/Mid office applications.
Founded in 2006, LDV clients span the financial information spectrum and include Wall Street investment banks, pension funds, oil/shipping data, rating agencies, hedge funds, industry utilities, data vendors and data management/risk software vendors. The LDV team will continue to be based in Toronto, working at other sites across the First Derivatives group as required.
The total consideration is being satisfied by a cash payment and the issue of 82,602 new ordinary shares ("Consideration Shares"), which will, when issued, rank pari passu in all respects with the existing ordinary shares.
Application will be made to the London Stock Exchange and the Irish Stock Exchange for the consideration shares to be admitted to trading on AIM and ESM. It is expected that the Consideration Shares will be admitted to trading on 6 August 2010.
Following admission the enlarged issued share capital of the Company will be 15,750,328 Ordinary Shares.